Jake Tapper Asks GOP Rep. if ‘Primetime Shows on Conservative Channels’ Have Been Pushing Russian Propaganda, Congressman Says It’s ‘Absolutely True’
A top House Republican confirmed Russian propaganda has been “uttered on the House floor.” And when Jake Tapper if “primetime shows on conservative channels” were responsible, the congressman confirmed that is the case.
In an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Tapper asked Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH) — who chairs the House Intelligence Committee — about comments from Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX). McCaul told Puck earlier this week, “I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base.” McCaul added, “nighttime entertainment shows … seem to spin, like, I see the Russian propaganda in some of it — and it’s almost identical [to what they’re saying on Russian state television] — on our airwaves.”
“[McCaul] singled out primetime shows on conservative channels,” Tapper told Turner. “Do you agree with him and how big is this problem?”
“It’s absolutely true,” Turner replied. “We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which were even hear being uttered on the House floor. I mean, there are members of Congress today who still incorrectly say that this conflict between Russia and Ukraine is over NATO, which of course it is not.”
The congressman went on to spell out the ramifications — and lobbied for additional aid for Ukraine.
“To the extent that this propaganda takes hold, it makes it more difficult for us to really see this as an authoritarian versus democracy battle, which is what it is,” Turner said. “President Xi of China, Vladimir Putin himself have identified it as such. We need to stand up for democracy. We need to make certain that that we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they when they start in aggression. Ukraine needs our help and assistance now. And this is a very critical time for U.S. Congress to step up and provide that aid.”
Watch above, via CNN.
